Chapter 6, continued Summary

As Hans Castorp's one-year anniversary approaches, Joachim is more silent than ever. When an August snowstorm seems to rob them of summer, Joachim becomes even more irritable. Hans begins to be afraid that Joachim has decided to leave, and worries that he'll never find his way back to the flatlands without him.

During their monthly medical exam, Behrens is preoccupied by a scandalous three-way love affair among the patients that resulted in three expulsions. When Joachim announces that he has decided to leave and his mother approves, Behrens asks Hans if he too is leaving. Hans says he will trust the Director's decision. However, when Behrens says Hans can leave, despite his persistent temperature, Hans protests that he can't mean it. Behrens flies into a rage, saying he is not the owner of a cathouse. A few days later, Hans visits Behrens to see if...